Coupling for connecting plows tandem.



No. 851,058. I PATENTED APR. 23, 1907. J L.- M. BROOKS.

COUPLING FOB. CONNECTING FLOWS TANDEM.

APPLIGATION FILED 1 30.18 1905.

plow following.

JOHN L. M. BROOKS, OF BIRDYILLE, TEXAS.

COUPLING FOR CONNECTING FLOWS TANDEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed December 18, 1905. Serial No. 292,322.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. M. BROOKS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Birdville, county of Tarrant, and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Couplings for ConnectingPlows Tandem, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to couplings for connecting plows together, onebehind the other, or gangs of plows together, one gang behind the other,or a single plow to a gang of lows, with either the gang or the single pow in front; and the object is to provide a connection which will permitlateral and vertical rocking motion and which will permit a rockingmotion of axle and'which permits longitudinal motion of theconnecting-rod, whereby the necessary flexibility is provided whenseveral plows connected together tandem are to be turned, and whichconnection with the connecting-rod supports the rear end of the beam ofthe gang of plows in front and which will guide the plows and hold theframes or beams of plows in determined alinement, so that the plow organg of plows behind others will perform their proper functionsthat is,plow or cut their proportion of earth. One of the advantages of thiscoupling is that it dispenses with the rear wheel of the gang of plowsin front and supports the tailpiece of the front plow on the front axleof the next This coupling also permits a shortening of the distancebetween the plows, so that the tandem plows will be much closertogether.

Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the followingdescription, and the invention will be more particularly pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisapplication and specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved coupling, showing the front partof one gangplow frame and the rear part of another gang of plows coupledtogether. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of an axle with the improvedcoupling mounted thereon and showing the connecting-rod in section. Fig.3 is a side view of the connecting-rod. Fig. 4 is a plan view of aconnecting-rod for use with another form of tailpiece of the gang-plow.Fig. 5 is a 'plan view of the sleeve which carries the rear end of theconnecting-rod.

Similar reference characters are used to indicate the same partsthroughout the several views.

The drawings show the front part of a Hancock plow and the rear part ofa Standard plow coupled together. This coupling is provided with aconnecting-rod 1, which is inserted in the bearing 2 of the tailpiece ofthe plow in front in the same way that the axle of the rear wheel isusually inserted. This form of connecting-rod is used when the plow infront is a Standard plow; but different forms of coupling-rods wouldhave to be used with different plows.

Fig. 4 shows the form of a coupling or connecting rod which would haveto be used if the plow in front was a Hancock plow. A cuff 3 is mountedon the axle of the front wheel of the plow in the rear, and this cuffhas a bearing 10 for the horizontal part of the elbow-shaft 4, whichgives a rocking motion of the elbow-shaft 4. The cuff 10 is rigidlymounted on the axle 7, being made ri id thereon by a set-screw 12. Thecuff is slidable on the axle when the set-screw 12 is released. A sleeve5 is mounted on the connecting-rod 1, and this sleeve has a bearing 6,which engages the vertical part of the elbow-shaft 4. By this means therod 1 has a laterally-swinging motion.

The rod 1 moves freely in the sleeve 5, so that the connecting-rod 1 haslongitudinal motion, which is necessary, because the distance betweenthe plows will vary slightly, particularly in making turns, each gang ofplows being drawn by a chain or cable connected to the power and theplows not being drawn by each other.

The connecting-rod 1 will hold the plows in line just as they are set orplaced; but the coupling is flexible and permits making turns. Theconnecting-rod 1 being loosely mounted in the sleeve 5, the axle 7 isnot prevented from rocking laterally, as when the wheel on one side ofone of the plows runs in a low place or hole in the ground or on unevenground. The elbow-shaft 4 is provided with suitable keys 8. Attention iscalled to the fact that the connecting-rod 1 is not laterally movable onthe axle or relative to the axle 7, but simply has a rocking motion onthe upright part of the shaft 4. The rod 1 has also I a rocking motionlaterally in the bearing 2 in the tailpiece of the plow in front. Theform of this tailpiece 9 differs in different makes of plows. Hence adifferent form of connecting-rod will be necessary. The bearing 10 forthe horizontal portion of shaft 4 has a lip 11 projecting under theshaft lto provide a rest for the shaft 4.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A coupling for connecting dem com rising a connecting-r0 connecte tothe plow in front and a bearing for said rod having a horizontally and avertically ivotal connection with and supported by t e plow in the rear.

2. A coupling for connecting lows tandem com rising a connecting-r0pivotally connecte to the low in front and a bearing engaging said roloosely and having a horizontally-pivoted connection and averticallypivoted connection with the plow in the rear.

3. A coupling for connecting wheeled plowstandem comprising aconnecting-rod, an elbow-shaft, a cuff mounted on the axle of the rearplow and provided with a bearing lows tanfor the horizontal partof saidelbow-shaft,

and a sleeve engaging said connecting-rod loosely and provided with abearing for the vertical part of said elbow-shaft, said conpivotally'necting-rod being pivotally connected to the rear of the plow in front.

4. A coupling for connecting wheeled plows tandem com risingaconnecting-rod pivotally connecte to the rear of a plow in front, a cuffmounted on the axle of a plow in the rear, a sleeve loosely mounted onsaid connecting-rod, and a flexible connection for said cuff and saidsleeve.

5. In wheeled plows connected tandem, the rear of the plow infront beingadjacent to the axle of the plow in the rear; a rod pivotally connectedto the rear of the plow in front and a bearing forsaid rod carried bysaid axle and consisting of-a vertically and laterally pivotedconnection for supporting the rear of the plow in front on the axle ofthe plow in the rear;

In testimony whereof I set my hand, in the resence oftwo witnesses, this8th day of December, 1905.

JOHN L. M. BROOKS.

Witnesses:

, A. L. JAoKsoN,

J. W; STITT.

